Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tool 11 Digital Citizenship
In fourth grade we do try and complete several major research projects. We are very fortunate to have a super librarian that has helped us instruct the students on appropriate search engines for them to conduct their research. As a teacher, I have found that it is very helpful to talk out and model the research process. How did we acquire the information?? How do we know whether or not it is accreditable information or site??What did we do to locate occur information?? By showing the process and that it is important to make sure you are researching the truth, students hopefully will begin to cat ch on to the actual process. After reading about Digital Citizenship, I also was thinking that at the beginning of a research project, involve the parents in the process. Maybe have a digital citizenship parent information night, which would include discussing carrying the appropriate process over to home access of the computer. Students also need to understand that the internet is a large, powerful device that can unintentionally or accidentally missused. Therefore I also find it very important to discuss safety and ediquette as well as literacy issues. I agree that we all have to work together on this issue. Technology isn't stopping or slowing down, so we need to work together and better equip or students earlier than later by modeling , discussing, and covering digital citizenship in all school and home areas.
Tool 11 Reflections :)
1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox?
My favorite tool was using the Image Generators and Mashups. I had so much fun generating my Trading Card and Wanted Poster. I also enjoyed the Digital Storytelling. It was fun to take some of my own photos and incorporate them into a photo story that I could post on my blog for others to view. Finding motivational videos to share with my class and post on my blog was also one of my favorite tools.
Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.
I definately plan on spending some time at the beginning of the year to teach my students how to use the photo story. I want them to feel very comfortable using this tool, so that they can create their personal narratives and essays digitally. I know that they will extremely enjoy using this tool on the new netbooks for the classroom and it allows them another way to publish their work. :) I also would like to incorporate a class blog and have my students a part of the building and creating of the blog. They can post and share individual work and be in the decision making process of choosing work to post on the blog.
2. How have you transfomed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
I realize the importance of implementing more technology into my classroom. It motivates the students and creates a more exciting learning environment. I am no longer afraid of trying new things using the netbooks, i-touches, active boards, and computer labs. I realize how easy it really is to use and plus these programs and sites are free. The future is now and to better reach our children, we have to become more computer friendly. It takes learning to a whole different level and definately a more enthusiastic, creative thinking kind of level.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
It suprised me that I actually had a good time completing most of these tools. This task was not overwhelming and with the detailed directions, I had an easy time completing the assignment. It was enjoyable for me to spend my quiet mornings drinking my coffee and completing a couple of the tools at a time. Now I am ready to show my students all that I learned this summer !!!! :)
My favorite tool was using the Image Generators and Mashups. I had so much fun generating my Trading Card and Wanted Poster. I also enjoyed the Digital Storytelling. It was fun to take some of my own photos and incorporate them into a photo story that I could post on my blog for others to view. Finding motivational videos to share with my class and post on my blog was also one of my favorite tools.
Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.
I definately plan on spending some time at the beginning of the year to teach my students how to use the photo story. I want them to feel very comfortable using this tool, so that they can create their personal narratives and essays digitally. I know that they will extremely enjoy using this tool on the new netbooks for the classroom and it allows them another way to publish their work. :) I also would like to incorporate a class blog and have my students a part of the building and creating of the blog. They can post and share individual work and be in the decision making process of choosing work to post on the blog.
2. How have you transfomed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
I realize the importance of implementing more technology into my classroom. It motivates the students and creates a more exciting learning environment. I am no longer afraid of trying new things using the netbooks, i-touches, active boards, and computer labs. I realize how easy it really is to use and plus these programs and sites are free. The future is now and to better reach our children, we have to become more computer friendly. It takes learning to a whole different level and definately a more enthusiastic, creative thinking kind of level.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
It suprised me that I actually had a good time completing most of these tools. This task was not overwhelming and with the detailed directions, I had an easy time completing the assignment. It was enjoyable for me to spend my quiet mornings drinking my coffee and completing a couple of the tools at a time. Now I am ready to show my students all that I learned this summer !!!! :)
Tool 10 I-touch experiences
I was fortunate enough to begin implementing the use of itouches into my classroom last year. My fourth graders had a blast researching various research topics on the i-touch. They were able to partner up and research Texas Cities for their group presentations on different cities. They also were able to use different diagraphs and diagrams on the i-touch to take notes and compare the cities. This made researching and notetaking more fun. The i-touches were also great for my beginner english language learners. They were able to use them for word recognition practice and the identification of common english words and vocabulary. There are vocabulary and alphabet games located for free on the i-touch which makes a very handy station for my ELL's. There are many different free sites available on the i-touches for all students to use either in partners or as a fun station. Brain Pop is a great site and it is fun for the students to watch on an individual i-touch. Just another fun way for them to learn the information. :) There are also plenty of math sites on the i-touch. Fun ways to practice the math facts. Many of my students were already comfortable using the i-touches and they had a blast teaching others who may not have had i-touch experiences. I have found that I-touches are an easy and fun way to incorporate learning and technology into the classroom.
Tool # 9
By using "Jing" in my classroom, I can now show my students lessons instead of just talking about lessons. Example: I plan on trying to use "Jing" and actually show how to revise and edit a piece of writing. My students need so much "hands on" practice with this skill and by using "jing", maybe they could really interact and share with each other what revising and editing look like. This is another way to get the students involved and connect real world to the classroom. I did download "Jing" and already started playing with it,so that I can have a lesson ready to share at the beginning of the year. Exciting!! :)
I read about "Skype" and have already began thinking of ways to implement it into my classroom. How amazing to be able to connect with classrooms around the world!! With my English language learners, I could connect with students from their country and they could share things about their culture, language , ect.... Even connecting with other classrooms in our district or in our state, can create collobrating activities for my students. It is endless of the things we could learn and explore using this online tool. :) Another thing I like about both of these is that they are free!!!! A teachers dream!!!
I read about "Skype" and have already began thinking of ways to implement it into my classroom. How amazing to be able to connect with classrooms around the world!! With my English language learners, I could connect with students from their country and they could share things about their culture, language , ect.... Even connecting with other classrooms in our district or in our state, can create collobrating activities for my students. It is endless of the things we could learn and explore using this online tool. :) Another thing I like about both of these is that they are free!!!! A teachers dream!!!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tool # 8
By using videos in the classroom gives the teachers another way to motivate and make learner more exciting. Videos make learning more fun and they seem to give students' brains an extra spark. Plus students in my classroom can use their netbooks to watch videos with partners, groups and whole class. It is also great to show videos on the active boards, engaging students even more with the lesson.
I had a great time exploring Teachertube. I found many fun videos to share with my class, but decided to post "Lets Learn the 50 States" and "Gotta Keep Reading". Both of these are great videos to motivate the students. Learning the 50 states is often a struggle for a lot of students. Now with the help from the video and catchy song found on Teacher Tube, students will more easily learn the names and locations of the 50 states. I thought this would be beneficial for both my fourth and fifth graders. The second video I found on Teacher Tube is a motivational song to keep students reading. The teachers that created the video took a popular song that students are familiar with and replaced the words of the song with their own. It also shows actual students singing, dancing and reading while the song is playing. This video doesn't really teach a strategy, but it definately will help motivate some of my reluctant readers. It also includes all of the different genres in the made-up song. I love it! :)
I had a great time exploring Teachertube. I found many fun videos to share with my class, but decided to post "Lets Learn the 50 States" and "Gotta Keep Reading". Both of these are great videos to motivate the students. Learning the 50 states is often a struggle for a lot of students. Now with the help from the video and catchy song found on Teacher Tube, students will more easily learn the names and locations of the 50 states. I thought this would be beneficial for both my fourth and fifth graders. The second video I found on Teacher Tube is a motivational song to keep students reading. The teachers that created the video took a popular song that students are familiar with and replaced the words of the song with their own. It also shows actual students singing, dancing and reading while the song is playing. This video doesn't really teach a strategy, but it definately will help motivate some of my reluctant readers. It also includes all of the different genres in the made-up song. I love it! :)
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